South West Illinois News

Monroe County Board of Commissioners met Aug. 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The meeting of the County Commissioners of Monroe County, Illinois was called to order at 8:15 a.m. by Vice-Chairman Vicki Koerber.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Vicki Koerber and Commissioner Doug Garmer were present. Commissioner George E. Green was absent.

Others present included County Clerk Jonathan McLean, Deputy Clerk Kara Etherton, State's Attorney Ryan Webb, Probation Officer Courtney Schweickhardt, Mindy Hanna from Oak Hill, Pat Kelly, James Crowe, Scott Woodsmall from the Republic Times, and Sheila Wetzler.

Commissioner Garmer made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular and closed meetings held on August 4, 2025. Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. Commissioner Green Absent. Motion carried.

Commissioner Koerber asked if there were any public comments.

Pat Kelly spoke about the Oak Hill Nursing Home and the Stringtown Levec Scour Hole.

There were no other comments.

Commissioner Garmer made a motion to approve the consent agenda. The following items were on the consent agenda:

a. Proclamation declaring August 19, 2025, as Aviation Day,

b. Reappointment of Scott Rippelmeyer to the Columbia Drainage & Levee District #3 for a term of three years to commence on September 2, 2025, and expires on September 1, 2028. Resolution #25-53.

c. Reappointment of Wesley Sensel to the Stringtown Drainage & Levee District #4 for a term of three years to commence on September 2, 2025, and expires on September 1, 2028. Resolution #25-54.

d. Reappointment of Mark Laurent to the Fort Chartres & Ivy Drainage District #5 for a term of three years to commence on September 2, 2025, and expires on September 1, 2028. Resolution #25-55.

e. Reappointment of Jason Embrich to the Fish Lake Drainage & Levee District #8 for a term of three years to commence on September 2, 2025, and expires on September 1, 2028. Resolution #25-56.

f. Reappointment of Douglas Sondag to the Harrisonville Drainage & Levee District for a term of three years to commence on September 2, 2025, and expires on September 1, 2028. Resolution #25-57.

Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. Commissioner Green Absent. Motion carried.

Mindy Hanna came before the Board to present the Oak Hill Report.

Treasurer Kevin Koenigstein appeared before the Board to present the Oak Hill Financial Statement and Resident Refunds.

Commissioner Garmer made a motion to approve the Oak Hill refund requests for August 2025 in the amount of $14,772.30. Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. Commissioner Green Absent. Motion carried. Resolution #25-58

Commissioner Garmer made a motion to approve the following Financial Reports:

a. Nursing Homes Financial Statements.

b. Monthly Nursing Home Distribution Report

c. Claims of $10,000.00 or greater.

d. County Distribution Report

e. County Financial Statements

Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. Commissioner Green Absent. Motion carried.

Probation Officer Courtney Schweickhardt gave a brief overview of the drug court program. She also told the Board that she would be presenting the Annual Probation Plan next month.

County Engineer Aaron Metzger brought three resolutions before the Board:

1. The first was a resolution for Improvement under the Illinois Highway Code for the Rogers Street North Project. Commissioner Garmer made a motion to approve. Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. Commissioner Green Absent. Motion carried. Resolution #25-59

2. The second was a resolution to Purchase a 2025 John Deere 410 P Backhoe. Commissioner Garmer made a motion to approve. Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. Commissioner Green Absent. Motion carried. Resolution #25-60

3. The third was a resolution to Purchase a 2025 Ford F-150 2WD Truck. Commissioner Garmer made a motion to approve. Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. Commissioner Green Absent. Motion carried. Resolution #25-61

Mr. Metzger discussed with the Board access to Rogers Street and ensure that access remained uniform for the entire length of Rogers Street. Mr. Metzger stated that he would look at the existing resolution and ordinance to see what wording might need to be added or changed and would then come back to discuss changes with the Board.

State's Attorney Ryan Webb and Zoning Administrator Chris Voelker brought an ordinance before the Board for regulating development in floodplain areas. They explained that this ordinance was necessary for individuals in the floodplain to qualify for the National Floodplain Insurance Plan. If the County did not pass this ordinance, residents might have a difficult time buying flood insurance or they might have to pay extreme prices to buy flood insurance. Commissioner Garmer made a motion to approve the ordinance. Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. Commissioner Green Absent. Motion carried. Ordinance #25-7

Assessor Dawn Goff and Deputy Assessor Kris Kennedy appeared before the Board with a resolution to modify the Monroe County, Illinois reassessment districts. Commissioner Garmer made a motion to approve. Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. Commissioner Green Absent. Motion carried. Resolution #25-62

Commissioner Garmer made a motion to approve going into closed session for the purpose of personnel. Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. Commissioner Green Absent. Motion carried.

Meeting closed at 9:30 a.m.

Commissioner Garmer made a motion to come out of closed session. Second by Commissioner Koerber. All voting Aye. None Nay. Commissioner Green Absent. Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 10:25 a.m. The next regular Board meeting will be on September 2, 2025.

Minutes approved on September 2, 2025, and filed for record in the County Clerk's office.

https://monroecountyil.gov/download/702/2025/251768/08-18-25-county-board-meeting-minutes.pdf